Catalytic methods for synthesis of super linear alkenyl arenes and alkyl arenes are provided. The methods are capable of synthesizing super linear alkyl and alkenyl arenes from simple arene and olefin starting materials and with high selectivity for linear coupling. Methods are also provided for making a 2,6-dimethylnapthalene (DMN) or 2,6-methylethylnapthalene (MEN).

Provided herein are palladium complexes comprising a ligand of Formula (A′) and a ligand of Formula (B), wherein R.sup.1-R.sup.18 are as defined herein. The palladium complexes are useful in methods of fluorinating aryl and heteroaryl substrates. Further provided are compositions and kits comprising the palladium complexes. ##STR00001##

The invention concerns a method for manufacturing of an electrocatalyst comprising a porous carbon support material, a catalytic material in the form of at least one type of metal, and macrocyclic compounds chemically bound to the carbon support and capable of forming complexes with single metal ions of said metal or metals, said method comprising the steps of: i) providing a template capable of acting as pore structure directing agent during formation of a highly porous electrically conducting templated carbon substrate, ii) mixing the template with one or several precursor substances of the catalytic material, the macrocyclic compounds and carbon, iii) exposing the mixture of the template and the precursor substances to a carbonization process during which the precursors react and transform the mixture into a carbonized template composite in winch the carbon part of the composite is chemically bound to macrocyclic compounds present in complexes with the metal or metals. The invention also concerns an electrocatalyst for electrochemical reactions, a method for manufacturing of a membrane electrode assembly using such an electrocatalyst and to a fuel cell making use of such an electrocatalyst.

An oxidative homocoupling method of synthesizing certain 2,2′-bithiophenes from thiophenes using oxygen as the terminal oxidant is disclosed. In non-limiting examples, the method uses oxygen along with a catalytic system that includes palladium, an assistive ligand, and a non-palladium metal additive to catalyze one of the following reactions: ##STR00001## Associated catalytic systems and compositions are also disclosed.

The present invention provides a catalyst which has oxygen reduction catalytic ability surpassing that of a platinum-carrying carbon material. This catalyst comprises a carbon material and a metal complex represented by formula (1). ##STR00001## In formula (1), X.sup.1 to X.sup.8 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, D.sup.1 to D.sup.4 each represent a nitrogen atom or a carbon atom wherein the carbon atom has bound thereto a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, and M represents a metallic atom.

A membrane includes a first layer, and a second layer coupled to the first layer. The second layer includes a network of catalytic sites, each catalytic site having a catalytic center characterized by promoting a chemical reaction of a target material. A method of forming a chemically reactive membrane includes applying a first solution to a structure, the first solution includes a macrocyclic ligand having electron-donating ligands and a side functional group for crosslinking, crosslinking a plurality of the macrocyclic ligand to form a first network of crosslinked macrocyclic ligands, and applying a second solution to the structure, the second solution comprising a catalytic center. Each catalytic center complexes with the electron-donating ligands of each macrocyclic ligand to form catalytic sites in the first network of crosslinked macrocyclic ligands.

The porphyrin-based catalysts for water splitting are composites of porphyrin or metalloporphyrin active ingredients, conductive carbon (e.g., graphene sheets, vapor grown carbon fiber, carbon black, etc.), and a polymer or binder that may be coated on a glassy carbon electrode. The polymer or binder may be Nafion oil or polyvinylidine difluoride. The porphyrin may be a porphyrin having a transition metal or hydrogen at its center, and may be halogenated and/or have a thiophene substituent.

A composition, method, and article of manufacture are disclosed. The composition includes a silica particle with light upconversion molecules bound to its surface. The method includes obtaining silica particles and light upconversion molecules having sidechains with reactive functional groups. The method further includes binding the light upconversion molecules to surfaces of the silica particles. The article of manufacture includes the composition.

Disclosed is an application of a hydrophobic phthalocyanine as a heterogeneous catalyst in oxidizing phenol wastewater by hydrogen peroxide. A hydrophobic silane is decorated on a bacterial cellulose-metal phthalocyanine heterogeneous catalyst to obtain a hydrophobic phthalocyanine heterogeneous catalyst; during the catalytic degradation of phenols, the obtained catalyst is capable of adjusting a concentration of hydrogen peroxide oxidant around the catalyst. A preparation method of the hydrophobic phthalocyanine comprises: 1. preparing a mixed solution of a bacterial cellulose medium containing metal phthalocyanine; 2. adding acetic acid bacterium into the mixed solution obtained in step 1 for biological culture; 3. heating the product obtained in step 2, and taking out a solid for cleaning and drying; 4. preparing a hydrophobic silane solution; and 5. immersing the product obtained in step 3 into the solution obtained in step 4, and taking out a solid after reaction for cleaning and drying.

A method of producing a catalytic carbon fiber may include: providing a carbon fiber and an aminated macrocycle, mixing the carbon fiber and the aminated macrocycle with a solvent; and reacting the carbon fiber and the aminated macrocycle to form an amide bond between the carbon fiber and the aminated macrocycle thereby forming the catalytic carbon fiber.